Montana Wedding

The wedding in Montana was a nice Fairbanks family reunion as well as a time for widening our family ties with new family that were so beautifully warm and welcoming. Jeremiah and Tara are a really nice fit for each other and really wanted to make it a fun weekend for everyone. Thursday afternoon we arrived at Snowbowl Lodge and Dad and I went to set up the Grand tent for the cousins to sleep in. (It reminds me of a tent off of Harry Potter) 

The weather was beautiful. They had their wedding rehearsal that afternoon and then a family dinner. After dinner that night they had a variety show in which they sang together as Jeremiah played his guitar. So Becky, Lori, Steve and I got up and sang a little “the hills are alive”…Steve got the audience participation in singing “ahahah”…”with Jeremiah and Tara” “ahahaha” and then we broke into the Jeremy bat song and danced around. Uncle Jason told the story of Rindercella, Amy sang, Brett gave good advice we all participated in a rain song…what a fun way for people to get to know each other.

 On Friday we all had time for a little shopping, early in the afternoon there was a brief water fight activity planned, Family pictures were taken at 4:30, The Wedding was at 7:00pm with a dinner and dance to follow. Jeremiah and Tara had taken some dance lessons together and performed a dance for everyone. They cut the cake together and dished to all their guests instead of having a receiving line. The dancing was crazy and the weekend was a great success. 

Many thanks to all those who made the weekend amazing.

Courageous!

Celine was baptised a member of

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

on Saturday June 25th at 7pm at the Alta Mesa Stake Center.

She came to visit us on Fathers Day to share with us her 

good news and ask Steve if he would baptise her.

 Many came to show their support in this important decision.

The Relief Society room was almost filled

with Celine's mother, missionaries, members from three different wards, 

as well as some friends and teachers from school.

Sunday, Steve and I we were able to attend her new single adult branch

 where she was confirmed and given the wonderful gift of the Holy Ghost. 

In Sunday school class each person of about 20, and even Celine

were all able to share our testimonies of why we are

members of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Each testimony was unique

 and we were all able to feel the sweet joys of the spirit!!!

Celine shows great courage as she sets out on

A great new beginning.

Congratulations Celine!

Biosphere Adventure

Yes we went to a tropical rain forest last Saturday.

This is the inside ocean. 

Scientist lived in this structure for 2 years.

( It is about the size of 3 football fields)

We saw what Frankincense looks like as it is growing.

I learned a new word called symbiosis and found out that it means that these plants are helping each other to grow as the needles of the catctus imbed into the trunk of the tree the tree benefits from the plasma from inside the cactus.

We learned it could be very benifical to have a garden for a roof.

Could you picture me mowing the lawn on my roof?

I have enjoyed seeing building with gardens on top of them...

but I did not know that it was the best kind of roof to have.

My sweetheart loves these kinds of adventures.

It is fun to do these sorts of things together.

The Big Day

Our baby is all grown up.

Michael has been looking forward to working in Canada for a few summers now,

and this year it all came together with the help of some great friends. 

Mike is living with the Parsons family.

We raised our families together when we all lived in Calgary.

Through Dee I learned some new handy crafts and mostly how to cook with garlic!

This reminds me of the night that Michael was born.

We had flown back from Utah where we were with family for two weeks

after the passing of Charlotte, Steve's sweet mother.

 I was expecting in a couple of weeks and Dee and Jason invited us over for supper.

While we were there my water broke and so we drove Timothie and Christopher home, got a babysitter, called Nana and Papa to come from Lethbridge and went to the hospital.

 In the rush of everything we put the kids to bed with their clothes on as they had fallen asleep in the car. When Nana and Papa got them up in the morning they found bits of rice in their beds and in the pockets and cuffs of thier Oshkosh overalls...

At first Nana thought OH NO there are maggots in their beds...

and then she smelled the garlic and realized that it was rice.

Long story short we have been friends a long time.

Our kids used to run around playing in batman capes together.

Now Michael has the opportunity to work in the fast lane of a Ford dealership with their son MacKenzie and has met some very nice people.

 Mike is learning new things, working hard and sharing some fun times.

As the time of the empty nest has begun for a season

we are very thankful for great friends.

We miss our children, and the good old days

BUT....

we are so grateful that they are safe,

 happy

 and cared for

 at this important time of their lives.

We love them all so much and just want them to find true joy and happiness in all that they do.

that's our baby!

WE Love You.

When a chapter ends and new one begins...

As a 4 years old child I decided that when I grew up I wanted to be a Dance Teacher, a Wife and a Mother. Now after seven years of full time employment this has been my last month as the Heritage Academy Dance Teacher. Who knew I could last seven years at the same job without getting bored? There is no doubt in my mind that this is where I was to be and for multiple reasons. I have been taught by many wonderful people. There is a line from one of my favorite musicals The King and I that comes to my mind...

There's a very ancient saying

but pure and honest thought

that when you become a teacher

 by your pupils you'll be taught!

                                                                                 
      In the last 3 years I have been privileged to join a book club from its beginning through my friends and work associates of the English department. Being the amazing teachers that they are, they have had the right love, patience, example, energy, encouragement and influence for one such student as myself .
       You may not know that I have a natural talent for reading very well and with expression while thinking about anything and everything else, and then not be able to tell what I just read. Reading has also been a great way to fall asleep especially when I am not even trying. It is due to these natural talents that I never read the books that I was given in school.
       You may wonder how I ever made it through to graduation...well I often wonder the same thing. It was through the examples of my parents that after High School I set out to seek knowledge line upon line. First by reading The Book of Mormon and then a book called Drawing on the Powers of Heaven. I found books about being your best self just in time for getting married and having children. With Children came a desire to understand how each individual is a genius with a personal path to find it within. I began to love reading side by side with our children everyday. What a great time to cuddle and enjoy being together. I wanted my children to grow up knowing how intelligent they were, and thus in our home we had the "smart room".
       At Heritage I found myself being drawn to those with a thirst for reading good books and a quest for knowledge. I had not yet realized how much you could learn from reading a novel and reading a book was never something I did just for fun. It has been such a wonderful experience to be among these ladies and explore great books for enjoyment, as well as learning.

Here are some of the books I have enjoyed reading:
Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk (first DBC book -intense read.)
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.
The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman
The Help by Kathryn
These Is My Words by Nancy E. Turner. (My favorite book so far!)
Sarah's Quilt by Nancy E. Turner
The Star Garden by Nancy E. Turner
The Anatomy of Peace by The Arbinger Institute.
Leadership and Self Deception by The Arbinger Institute
The Seven Paths of the Anasazi Way by Anasazi Foundation
Holding Fast by Robert Millet
Talking With God by Robert Millet
The Emotion Code by Bradley Nelson
Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington
Life Lessons for Mastering the Law of Attraction by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen
Feelings Buried Alive Never Die by Karol K Truman
Healing Feelings From Your Heart by Karol K. Truman

Our next adventure is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte before our year retreat in September.

      On Thursday and we met at the Charleston Restaurant where we met for our first book club meeting. Upon arrival I noticed all the ladies had a gift bag and at the end of our dinner they all brought forth these very thoughtful presents. Each one had chosen one of their favorite novels to share with me as we move to Utah. My heart is so full of love and appreciation for each member. Each one of them with such strengths and individuality. Each one of them with a story of their own to tell. Each one an example of righteousness. Each one I have learned from and each one of them I consider a very dear friend. Teacher, and pupil have all learned so much about being a part of each other.

        On my desk I now have so much to see, to learn and to understand. Years of reading to make up for. Many books yet to be read. I will miss working with such amazing women, but it is comforting to know that near or far I can still be a member of our DBC. Most importantly we will always be true friends and kindred spirits.

From the depths of my heart ladies...

I Love You

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Graduation 2011

 Michael has completed his High School at Heritage Academy and has plans

to attend Northern Arizona University in the fall.

Michael will be missed at Heritage as he has

a fan club of young ladies that were very sad to hear that he graduated this year...

We are excited for this new beginning in Michael's life.

He has so many talents to share with the world.

Congratulations Michael

on

Graduation 2011

Prom 2011

Our baby has 2 more days until graduation....

Where does the time go?

We LOVE you Michael Stephen Maughan!